HIEC

Intermediate Conversation 2 (High Intermediate)

• Pukyong National University (Daeyeon Campus)
• Fall 2020
• Course #109819
• Room: C25 #531 (allotted rooms, but not likely used)
• Instructional medium: This course will be conducted with a blend of live Zoom sessions and some uploaded, pre-recorded videos in the LMS. It is unlikely that we will hold live classes in our classroom.

Prof. Kent Lee

• Office: C25-1103
• Office hours: By appointment

1 Course description

This course deals with academic English for your college studies, including (1) better English learning strategies, and (2) basic academic English speaking skills for college life. This course is what we call English for academic purposes (EAP), and so this course will be quite different from your past high school and 학원 courses (at least in normal times, it would be quite different; the online format will affect this).

We are assuming that there will be no live in-person classes this semester. Thus, this course will be conducted with a blend of live Zoom sessions and pre-recorded lecture videos via the LMS.

2 Assignments

Click on the 'Expand' applet on the right to see or collapse past assignments and materials.

2.1 Short video #1

Imagine you and your group members have the opportunity to set up your own FM radio station. This could be in any city, area, or country that you like. What kind of station would you like to run? What kind of format would you like - i.e., the type(s) of music and programs? Here are some options to consider. Be ready to present your ideas to the class.

Locale

1. Location, target audience (e.g., demographics)
2. A traditional terrestrial station (maybe also offering online streaming) or an online station

General type of station

1. A commercial station (for-profit, privately or corporately owned)
2. A public radio station (owned and/or funded by a local or national government)
3. A public access station (a station that is supported by public donations, and where private individuals can put together their own 1-2 hour radio shows / programs and serve as volunteer DJs.

Format

1. A single-format station (generally one main genre of music, though some programs might feature different genres)
2. A multiple-format station (featuring different kinds of programs and music styles throughout the day and week)
3. What kind of program(s) and program schedule would appeal to your listeners? 

Financing, branding, marketing, etc.

1. What will you call your station (e.g., call letters like ”BEFM,” a nickname, or a brand name)?
2. How will you promote your station, e.g., advertising messages, slogans, how you will describe the music & programs, etc.?
3. Will your station rely on commercial advertisements?
4. Will you need to raise money in order to finance your station (e.g., from investors)?

Assignment requirements

1. You can form your own groups of up to six persons per group, or you can go solo (alone). Each person should contribute equally.
   • One person (solo): at least 2.5 minutes
   • Two persons: 2 minutes per person
   • Three or more persons: 1.5 minutes per person
2. Grading criteria: This will be graded based on the following criteria (from p. 19).
   1. Uniqueness: Creative, worthwhile, interesting, or practical ideas (or ideas that have social value or commercial potential)
   2. Clarity: Clear explanations
   3. Contents: Sufficient overall contents; Equal work & contributions by each member (for pairs or groups)
   4. Details: Sufficient explanations & details
   5. Delivery: Clear speaking & vocal delivery; appropriate body language

2.2 Midterm video

Midterm video

For this video assignment, you will discuss the following.

• If you were to produce your own film or TV show (or write your own book), which genre would you do?
• Why do you like that genre?
• What are the typical elements of that genre (in film, TV or books)?
• What kinds of tropes, plot and characters would you use? Are there some tropes that you would not want to use? (And why not?)

2.3 Short video #2

SV #2 - Video critique

For this assignment, you will record and upload a video of 2-3 minutes in length, in which you critique a video media product (a video that is in English). The video that you critique can be a music video (for a pop or rock song, e.g., on Youtube), or a TV commercial (commercial advert). After briefly describing the video, you will critique it by discussing either video production aspects, or social aspects. This should be a video that we have not discussed in class. This is due on 28 Nov.

Video production aspects can include:

• How the video was produced
• The production quality - good or bad
• How practical effects were done

Social aspects can include:

• Positive or negative social messages that the video conveys
• Elements of sexism, gender bias, racism, xenophobia, elitism, or other social baises
• Other types of social or political messages or attitudes
• How the video promotes or exemplifies such attitudes, or
• How it challenges such attitudes

2.4 Final presentation

Final presentation - Film / TV proposal

Final Creative project For the final, you will record and upload a presentation to pitch an original, low-budget, independent film (or TV show) idea to potential investors. You can do this solo (by yourself) or in a group; you can organize group on your own of 2-6 people.You can use the very same topic as for the midterm, or you can modify or change it. (If you did a book idea, you can readily transform it into a TV show or film.) As before, you can post the video in the LMS assignment space. For a group presentation, this would be all members of your group presenting one film proposal, in which case each person will discuss a different aspect of the proposal.

Due date: 19 December

Length (minimum - maximum):

• 1 person (solo): 6-10 minutes
• 2 persons (duo): 5-8 minutes per person
• 3-6 persons: 4-6 minutes per person

Grading criteria: This will be graded more strictly than the midterm or previous assignments. I will grade according to the following criteria in the textbook appendix for major presentations.

• Rationale, goals, objectives
• General contents
• Support & details - for the film / TV show itself
• Project details - for the whole project
• Clarity
• Organization
• Speaking & vocal delivery
• Interaction with audience
• Visual aids*
• Equal participation
• Value
• Reception & effectiveness

[*] Your PPT file (or other visual aid) will be submitted separately, in a separate assignment space in the LMS. This is the so-called pitch deck or presentation file, and it can be a PPT file, a Prezi, or a brochure (e.g., created in a word processor or publishing program and saved in PDF). When you record the video, please record just yourselves, without putting the visual aid in your Zoom recording. I would like to be able to see the video and visual aid file separately.

Please see the following sections in the book.

• Chapter 6: Video production & other terminology
• §8.2 - §8.3: Project & project guidelines
• A make-up lecture video in the LMS (for the Tuesday of the Chuseok holiday; attendance applies to Week 15) presents a sample presentation
• There is a sample write-up in §8.4 of the book; this is from past semesters, when I required a written essay for this assignment, but this is no longer required. The idea in this example is slightly different from the example in the lecture video example.

2.5 Readings and materials

The textbook for this course is a course packet, which will be made available in a PDF file in the LMS. Other materials will be available in the LMS and at the course website

3 Genres

See also the page on genres and the page on plot elements.

3.1 Introduction: Visual arts genres

In your group, choose one particular visual arts genre (TV/film) or literary genre to discuss. For your genre, what are common genre elements? Discuss this, and write some notes or answers to these questions below.

• Defining features or typical features (“ingredients”)
• Typical elements (plot / plot elements, setting / scene, characters / actors, protagonists, antagonists, contents, film techniques)
• Audience: target audience, audience expectations
• Appeal: reasons for its appeal
• Important subgenres
• Social value - what is the social value or utility of this?
• Vocabulary - important terms that you need to know to discuss this genre

3.2 Music genres

Discuss the following genres and subgenres. What are their typical or defining characteristics? Where did they come from? What are some typical examples of each subgenre? Which are your favorites – and why? Feel free to add other genres or subgenres to this list.

Classical Renaissance Baroque Classical (classical proper, of the 18th/19th century classical period) Romanticism Modern classical (e.g., experimental styles, twelve-tone)

Jazz Jazz: Ragtime, Big Band, smooth / lounge jazz, progressive jazz, fusion, acid jazz, vocal jazz, experimental jazz Blues

Rock (rock & roll) / pop Folk rock Rock / pop Punk, new wave, alternative Hip-hop / rap R&B (rhythm & blues) Urban Metal (heavy metal, thrash metal) K-pop, J-pop... Others:

Folk music Celtic Bluegrass (western) Bluegrass (Cajun – French Louisiana) Country (country & western)

4 Humor and humor genres

Humor can be classified into different genres based on the source or topic of humor, how it is delivered, or the context, i.e., when, where, or how it is delivered. Discuss the different genres or types of humor that you can think of. What are some typical examples? Which ones do you like or not like, and why? See the page on humor genres.